Foldable garment container

ABSTRACT

The invention embodies a foldable container structure particularly adapted for receiving clothing in full length depending condition and which folds into looped formation with the folding of the parts of the container structure to closed relation. The container structure includes a plurality of sections which are swingably connected together by crossbars in end to end relation and which successively decrease in size to permit of the swinging of the sections into folded relation and the nesting of the sections in closed relation and with the clothing arranged in looped formation about the crossbars within the nested sections.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Louis Marshall [56] References Cited I N 3 5; i UNITED STATES PATENTS [21] P 1741,771 12/1929 Hellman 190/13ux [221 Med May 1969 1,838,240 12/1931 Vineberg.. 190/13(.8) [45] Patented Jan. 5, 1971 Ba Co 6 1,894,485 1/1933 Frankl l90/13(.8)X 1 Asslsnee a m 2,036,34 4/1936 Meyer 190/41 (.2)

V a corporation of New York Primary Examiner-Donald F. Norton Attorney-Borst & Borst AliSTRACT: The invention eiii'flddis a foldable container structure particularly adapted for receiving clothing in full length depending condition and which folds into looped formation with the folding of the parts of the container structure [54] FOLD CONTAINER to closed relation. The container structure includes a plurality 4 Claims mg Figs of sections which are swingably connected together by cross- [52] US. 190/13, bars in end to end relation and which successively decrease in 190/41 size to permit of the swinging of the sections into folded rela- {51] Int. A47b 61/06 tion and the nesting of the sections in closed relation and with [50] Field of Search 190/13, 14, the clothing arranged in looped formation about the crossbars within the nested sections.

MIMI/ T PATENTEU' JELN s ism sum 2 BF 3 .1 FoLnABL GARMENT CONTAINER A FOLDABLE GARMENT CONTAINER This invention relates to a foldable container structure adapted to receive one or more garments infull length condition and which garments fold with the folding of the container structure to closed relation for transportation.

The invention comprehends a container structure such as a suitcase, travel bag and the like consisting of swingably connected sections arranged in contiguous end to-end relation where in extended open conditions for receiving one or more unfolded garments therein'and which fold with the successive folding of the sections into nested relationso as to encompass the garments within the closed container structure.

An object of the inventionis to provide a garment-receiving container structure ofthe aforesaid character in which one or more garments can be conveniently hung in depending relation when the container structure is in open extended relation and-which fold with the successive folding of the section to closed relation so as to retain the garments in neat condition in the container structure for transportation.

The invention further has for an object the provision of a container structure composed of two end sections and two intermediate sections which are pivotallyconnected in end to end relation and are so constructed and arranged that the sections may be folded into closed nested relation.

Another object of the invention is to provide hanger means affixed to the container structurefor hanging one or more garments thereon which fold into looped formation about crossbars pivotally connecting the sections.,togethe with the folding of the sections into 'said'clpsed nested relation. 1 I With the foregoing'a'nd 'otherobjec'tsin viewfreference is made to the following-description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which thepreferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container structure such as a suitcase constructed in accordance with the invention and il' lustrating the same in open relation and witha garment arranged therein on hanger means. a g:

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on line 2-2 of FIG. 1 with the upper end section swung into folded relation with the adjacent section.

FIG. 3 is a similar view showing two of the sections swung into folded relation and with the garment folded over two of the crossbar's.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view showing the sections in nested closed relation and the garment folded and encompassed by the container structure.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG; 6 is a perspective view showingthe case closed for transportation.

The invention is illustrated in the drawings in its'application' to a suitcase structure which includes end sections 10'and 11, and intermediate sections 12 and 13. The end: section 10 is open at the front and rear and lower end and includes a top wall 14 connected with sidewall. l5 and 16.. A hanger bracket 17 is affixed to the top wall 14 for receiving. one or more hangers 18 on which clothing may be draped such as the garment G shown in broken lines.

Theintermediatesection 12 is open at the front, rear and ends and includes sidewalls l9 and 20.; Thissection is swingably connected with the end section 10 by a crossbar 21 extending through bearing'openings'in thesid'e walls of said sections for swinging movement of said'end section 10 within the intermediate section 12 as shown in FIG. 2; v

The intermediate section 13 is open at the front and ends and includes a rear wall 24 connected with opposite-sidewalls 25 and 26. The section 12 is swingably connected with the in termediate section 13 by a crossbar 27 which extendsthrough bearing openings in the sidewalls of said sections for combined swinging movement of said sections 10 and l2'within the sec-1 tion 13, asshown in FIG. 3.

.The end section 11 is the lowermost section and is open at the front and upper end and includes a rear wall 28 connected with opposite sidewalls 29 and 30 and connected with a bottom'wall 31. The'bottom wall 31 has a longitudinally extending hinged flap 32 connected along the forward edge thereof and the rear wall 28 has a longitudinally extending hinged panel 33 connected with the upper edge thereof which forms the top wall of the container as shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 where the 'sections'lfl, l2 and 13 are swung into nested rela= tion with the lowermost section IL-When in this relation the rear wall 24 of the intermediate section 13 forms the front wall of the container and the flap 32 extends'upwa'rdly over the lower face portion of said front wall andthe same are provided with interengagable latch means 35 for securing the pans in t closed relation. The top wall 33 is also provided with a closure flap 34 which extends downwardly over the upper face portion of said front wall 24 which parts are provided with interengagable latch means 36 for securing the case in closed relation.

The intermediate section 13 is swingably connected with the lowermost section 11 by a crossbar 37 which extends through bearing openings in the sidewalls thereof for swinging movement of the sections 10 and 12 with the section 13 into nested relation between the sidewalls of section 11. The sidewalls 25 and 26 and the rear wall 24 of the section 13 are cut away as at 38 to provide clearance for the swinging of the sectionl3. A handle member 39 affixed to the top wall 33 is provided for carrying the container.

- The crossbars 21, 2 7 and 37 are pivoted at their ends in the sidewalls of the sections on vertical lines extending'rnedially of the sidewalls 29 and 30 respectively'of the lowermost section 11 which permits of the draping of one or more garments to hang rearwardly of the crossbars as shown by the garment G.

The sidewalls of the sections 10, 12-, 13 and 11 are successively of shorter length and are mounted on the crossbars inwardly of the sidewalls of the adjacent section-whereby the sections may be successively swung about the crossbars 21, 27 and 37 to a completely nested relation with the section 11. With the swinging of the sections, the garments suspended from hangers 18 in the usual manner, such as garment G successively folds over the crossbars 21, 27 and 37 to the completely looped position shown in FIG. 5 of the dr'awir'i'gs'ir'i which the garment is arranged in a plurality of loops.

Thus, a container structure is provided which is foldable into suitcase or travelcase formation and is adapted to receive one or more full length garments in unfolded relation and which fold into looped formation with the folding of the parts of the structure to closed relation for't'ransportation of the garments in unwrinkled or mussed condition.

Iclaim: g

1. Afoldable container structure comprising two end sec tions and two intermediate sections, crossbars pivotally connecting adjacent sections in end to end open relation for swinging movement of the sections from said end to'end open relation to a folded nested relation in which the container is closed, hanger means carried by one of said end sections for receiving a garment thereon when said sections are in said open relation to dispose said garment in depending relation atthe rear of said cro'ssbars',and said sections when swung on said crossbars to said folded relation effecting the" folding of said garment over the crossbars into looped formation thereabout 'andenclosed by the container'structure= 2'. A foldable container structure as set forth in claim 1 in which two of said sections located-at one'end of the structure are open at their front and rear and two of said sections to close the container structure, hanger means carried by an end section for receiving a garment in hung relation at the rear of the crossbars and said garment folding on said crossbars with the swinging of the sections into said nested relation to dispose said garment in looped formation extending about said crossbars and enclosed by the closed container. 

1. A foldable container structure comprising two end sections and two intermediate sections, crossbars pivotally connecting adjacent sections in end to end open relation for swinging movement of the sections from said end to end open relation to a folded nested relation in which the container is closed, hanger means carried by one of said end sections for receiving a garment thereon when said sections are in said open relation to dispose said garment in depending relation at the rear of said crossbars, and said sections when swung on said crossbars to said folded relation effecting the folding of said garment over the crossbars into looped formation thereabout and enclosed by the container structure.
 2. A foldable container structure as set forth in claim 1 in which two of said sections located at one end of the structure are open at their front and rear and two of said sections located at the other end of the structure are open at their front and adjacent sections are open therebetween, and said sections are relatively shorter in length successively from said one end of the structure to said other end whereby three of the sections are swingable about said crossbars into said nested relation with the remaining section.
 3. A foldable container structure as set forth in claim 2 in which the crossbars are pivoted at their ends on lines extending substantially medial between the front and rear of the lowermost end section and the sections are swingable on the crossbars outwardly away from the rear of the sections.
 4. A foldable container structure comprising a plurality of sections, crossbars pivotally connecting adjacent sections together in end to end relation, said sections being so constructed and arranged that the same may be swung on said crossbars into folded relation and the sections nested together to close the container structure, hanger means carried by an end section for receiving a garment in hung relation at the rear of the crossbars and said garment folding on said crossbars with the swinging of the sections into said nested relation to dispose said garment in looped formation extending about said crossbars and enclosed by the closed container. 